It’s that time to relax with some of the finest live musical talent in restaurants and other local venues during Jazz Week, June 11 to 16. Vocalists, musicians and groups will be performing starting at the Gibsons Library on June 11 and continuing at various restaurants about town, the WOW Art Café, Persephone and the Gibsons Public Art Gallery. See www.coastjazz.com for a full listing of the places and times.
Jazz on the street
The 21st annual Gibsons Landing Jazz Festival takes place June 17 to 19. The Main Stage Street Festival is on Saturday, June 18, from noon to 5 p.m. and the street will be closed to traffic. Featured this year are the Daniel Brubeck Quartet, Silk Road, the Karen Graves Quartet and the Sweet Pea Swing Band. A second Bus Stop Stage features the local Elphinstone School Band. Filling the street will be the high energy 20-plus piece Carnival Band, joined by stilt walkers and street performers. Community groups, food and craft vendors will line the street. Buying a ticket for the day’s events gives you a chance to win great prizes donated by local merchants. Show goes on rain or shine!
The kick-off to the weekend, Friday, June 17, features a concert by the Trudi Diening Trio with Miles Black and Jodi Proznick at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons. On Saturday enjoy dinner jazz at Molly’s Reach with Crook before the dance at Gibsons Legion with the Carnival Band. On Sunday enjoy Jazz Brunch with vocalist Jennifer Hayes and Steve Giltrow on guitar at Leo’s Tapas and Grill, then walk over to the free Sunday afternoon festival in Winegarden Park featuring Creek Big Band with special guests Definitely Diva, followed by Sostenuto and the always popular Colorifics. Close out the day with the Jacquie Allan Quartet at St. Bart’s Church with Jazz Vespers or have dinner at Chaster’s Restaurant with music by Charlotte Wrinch. Get the entire schedule and order tickets from www.coastjazz.com
This weekend
The Suncoast Phoenix Choir will sing on Saturday, June 11 at 2 p.m. in Gibsons at Calvary Baptist Church on Park Road. Admission is by donation.
Pender Choir
At 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, enjoy Music in the Air at St. John’s United Church, Davis Bay and again at 7 p.m. on Sunday, June 12 at the School of Music, Madeira Park. The Pender Harbour Choir with musical director Joy McLeod and piano collaborator David Poon performs folk, popular and classical pieces. Tickets are $20 at EarthFair Store in Madeira Park, Sechelt Visitor Centre, or from choir members. See penderharbourmusic.ca/choir
Creative in the Creek
Creative in the Creek is all set for Thursday, June 16 with doors opening at 7 p.m., show time at 7:30 at the Gumboot Café in Roberts Creek. It’s hosted by David Roche and admission is a donation at the door. This month features “exquisite music and humour that is careful to not be exquisite.” Simon Haiduk is virtuoso on the world’s most compelling instrument, the cello. Kenji Akimoto sings Japanese folks songs with heart and soul. David Roche rambles on about why he doesn’t trust people with teeth, and a couple of delightful surprises that will pretty much force you to laugh.
Traditional harana
The Sunshine Coast Filipino-Canadian Association is helping to promote a show, Harana, A Cultural Journey, to be performed by the Philippine Opera Company at the Heritage Playhouse in Gibsons, on Tuesday, June 14. The group is from the Philippines and was invited to perform in several locations in Canada and the U.S. The word harana means the courtship tradition of serenading women in barrios. This opera company has a different harana in mind, one that will court people into discovering good old Philippino songs and dances created during the time of their grandparents. The show on June 14 starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $25, available at The Passionista in Sunnycrest Mall or by calling Mercy Campbell at 604-741-7880.
Film night
In conjunction with Sunshine Coast Welcoming Communities, the Gibsons Public Art Gallery presents National Film Board film night on the third Thursday of every month. Coming this Thursday, June 16 at 7 p.m., Button Blanket, a three-minute, impressionist documentary, looks at the traditional dance and art of the West Coast Heiltsuk people.
Also showing is Lord of the Sky (13 minutes). In this animated environmental parable, we find a people living in harmony with nature, until carelessness leads to the ravens’ revenge. Lord of the Sky is a dazzling combination of 3-D models, puppets, special effects and cut-out paper animation. Admission is free. Snacks and discussion will follow the films. For more, call Pat at 604-886-0531 or 604-886-3266 or Maria at 604-865-0170.
Pottery workshop
Pat Forst invites you to a pottery workshop in Gibsons, June 18 and 19, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This workshop is for beginner and intermediate level wheel work. It will include making pots with lids such as spice jars and small casseroles. Cost is $150 at Forst Pottery, Gibsons. Register at [email protected]
Vocal Intent
Vocal Intent and friends perform in a concert titled This Shining Night on Friday, June 17 at 8 p.m. at Living Faith Lutheran Church in Davis Bay. Admission is by donation. See vocalintent.ca for more details.
Duck Pluck
Duck Pluck raffle tickets are now available online in advance of the Children’s Festival on Saturday, June 25 in Dougall Park, Gibsons. There are $4,000 in prizes to win and $1,500 in door prizes. Ticket sales support Community Services programs such as Bellies & Babies, Parent-Tot Drop-In, Infant Child Development, Kids in Motion and Supported Child Development. Sign up to share free rides to the festival as well as buy your raffle ticket at www.share-there.com
Noon deadline
Send your notice of arts events by Tuesday at noon for Friday’s newspaper to [email protected] or phone 604-886-4692. Please include a contact person’s phone number or email in your notice.
